Greetings from campus!
Our students returned to campus this week after a much-needed long weekend! As we all remember, this long weekend was a welcomed respite as we pushed through winter and toward warmer weather. While the upcoming spring break is on the horizon, winter activities are in full swing. Sports teams are in the final stretches of their regular seasons, with the opportunity of postseason play well within reach. Meanwhile, Theater Arts is getting closer to its highly anticipated performance of The SpongeBob Musical which promises to be a delight for the whole family.
Founders Day, our annual day of giving, is Wednesday, February 15! Join the community on this fun and festive day that focuses on participation. Look for class challenges and channel your inner competitiveness. Be sure to follow along on social media for all the fun content that accompanies the day!
The more time I spend in this role the more I am reminded of the incredible impact this place has on students' lives. Yesterday, I attended a thrilling Boys Varsity Basketball victory against Choate. Community members and alumni filled the stands, and the energy was infectious. I can't emphasize enough the momentum on this campus and how it is creating opportunities for the positive development of our students. It's why I came back and continue to give back. I encourage you all to swing by campus and attend a concert or play, visit the art gallery, or just watch a game and experience this energy for yourselves—just make sure to let us know, we'd love to say hello!
Go Wildcats!
Steve Hoyt '95, P'25, '25 Director of Alumni Engagement
Notes from Campus
For the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Assembly this year, the Williston Northampton School welcomed world-renowned musician Massamba Diop to the Phillips Stevens Chapel. Using his tama—or talking drum—Diop reached out to everyone in the crowd, at times quite literally, to give “good luck” and open their hearts. It was an electric performance. Read more here and watch video highlights of the performance here.
Grum Project visiting artist Ekow Nimako, a Toronto-based visual artist, came to Easthampton for four days in January to work with students in both the Middle School and Upper School on projects using LEGO elements. His showcase piece—and gift to the school—was a 4-foot-by-6-foot LEGO creation depicting how campus could look in 3023 CE. Read more here and see photo gallery here.
Elsa Frankel ’23 used her recent Head’s Holiday last week to create a TikTok video using a filter—or overlay—she created that has garnered 2.4 million views so far. Her filter works like many you might have seen that prescribe you—roulette-style—a personality or food preference, as you record your reaction. What was different, though, is Frankel’s filter assigned users an answer related to the unit circle. Check out her TikTok or read more here.
Interested in teaching at Williston? On Monday, February 20, from noon to 2:30 p.m., we will host a virtual open house event via Zoom for all those interested in future faculty positions. This is an open recruitment event for anyone considering a teaching career at Williston. All are welcome, regardless of whether there is an opening, across all departments. We look forward to seeing you! Register for the event here.
It's been a particularly busy several weeks for the Math Team! Last Sunday we hosted the 4th annual Whitaker-Bement Girls in Mathematics Competition, and the day was phenomenal. There was so much math joy all around W-B! Read more here and see links to the results. Also, Sophie Chou '24 put together an amazing highlight video you can watch right here!
Williston alums are thriving in college athletics. Campbell Collins '23 writes in the Willistonian how alums are proving themselves to be prominent contributors as they compete on the field, ice, court, and in the pool at college. As most colleges enter a new semester, many sports teams are gearing up for a new season while others are using some much-needed free time after last season’s games.
From Williston to Amherst: Natalie Stott '22, Maeve Reynolds '22 continue their winning ways. In this profile, when asked about one of their favorite moments together, Reynolds remembered the NEPSAC title game when she and Stott were seniors at Williston. Stott recorded a shutout, Reynolds scored a goal, and the two of them celebrated with their teammates after the buzzer sounded – a perfect conclusion to their time in Easthampton. Read this awesome Daily Hampshire Gazette profile here.
Spotlight on: Whitney Foard Small '79
What do you think is next for women in your professional field?
I think the women in my field of corporate communications will continue to experience opportunities to move more fluidly between roles. Some may switch back and forth between corporate and consultancy roles, bringing a more diversified set of skills. Others will find opportunities to move between the private and public sectors, providing and acquiring critical expertise. Finally, many will move into leadership roles as the paths to the C-suite become more diverse and inclusive.
Spotlight on: Brittany Glenn '07
What advice would you give to a girl graduating from Williston today?
Remember that finding your passion is a matter of pushing yourself to continue to learn. Be intellectually curious and ask questions! I have found that pushing myself to learn and understand the several segments of the business and industry I choose to work in has allowed me to grow in ways that I could not have imagined. It has led me to a role that not only highlights my strengths, but continues to challenge me each and every day.
Spotlight on: Zuleka Ru-Glo Henderson '98
What do you think is next for women in your professional field?
I can’t speak for most women in my field, but I do know that women I’m close with are boldly pivoting from old models of clinical practice and digging deep into innovation and radically imagining new possibilities for this world. We are deconstructing ideas about work, success, and mental healthcare in ways that invite us to dream up and manifest new pathways to equitable, quality, healing-centered, culturally rooted, collective models of care that help ensure wellbeing for all people.
Alumni Events
We had an awesome Williston Alumni Hockey Weekend! It was an exciting return to this incredible event. Alums arrived early to watch the Boys Varsity Hockey team take down Wilbraham & Monson 7-1 on Friday evening. The next afternoon alums and current players competed hard with the Blue Team taking the Alumni Cup! Blue Team goalie Meghann Treacy '11 was named the unanimous MVP for her performance between the pipes. The Girls Varsity annual Pink in the Rink game followed and concluded a fabulous day at Lossone. The girls won on and off the ice with an 11-0 victory against Hotchkiss and raised over $5,000 for the Cancer Connection. Click here for the photo gallery and check out this awesome Instagram video of the Pink in the Rink Event.
Let's Hoop! The long awaited return of the Alumni Basketball Game is here! Join us Saturday, February 18 at 2 p.m. Stretch out those hammys and get that jumper on lock, it's go time! Join us following the game for a reception as we prep for the Boy's Varsity game against rival Suffield at 6:30 p.m. RSVP Here.
The Boston Networking event is returning! Join us Tuesday March 28th at the Boston College Club for this professional gathering. We will feature keynote speakers and a speed networking session with a cross section of professions represented. RSVP here today!
Reunion Registration is live! Join us June 9-11 as we celebrate the 3's and 8's class years and are also hosting our first cluster reunion for 2016, 2017 & 2018! Registration is open! Visit the reunion page and register today!
As always, keep up to date with upcoming alumni events here. March 7 West Palm Beach, April 13 DC, April 30 Los Angeles
Send us notes or photos for the next issue of the Bulletin! Click here to Submit!
Founders Day is Next Wednesday, February 15!
Wildcats get ready—Founders Day is next Wednesday! When 1,000 supporters make a gift, it will unlock $75,000 for Williston Northampton Fund—and for every additional 100 supporters, $5,000 will be donated!
We have several challenges with a few more in the works, and check out the alumni leaderboard—the class with the most supporters (not including 2023) gets its year painted on the lion!
Join the alumni community in coming together for Williston and follow along on social to help spread the love for the Green and Blue!
Reunion Is Coming!
Join us on campus for Reunion 2023, June 9-11, for a weekend of reconnecting, reminiscing, and rediscovering with your classmates and friends! We will be celebrating the classes ending in 3’s and 8’s, but as always, all alumni are welcome to attend. Early-bird discount is available through May 12. We can’t wait to welcome you to campus! Click Here to register today!
View the Reunion schedule here (check back for updates and additions)!
Wondering how the Williston Northampton professional network works? Search our alumni LinkedIn or join WillistonConnects to find alumni who share your professional and personal interests. On WillistonConnects, members of the community are ready and willing to offer advice and perspective no matter where you are in your career journey. And with nearly 1000 members and growing, the Williston Alumni and Alumni of Color LinkedIn Groups are your go-to resources for professional contacts. Tap into the power of your Wildcat Networks!